NPR Music’s weekly New Music Friday albums picks for Oct. 23 lead with Anderson .Paak and Cordae’s Heavy Is the Crown. According to NPR, the team listens to dozens of new releases in advance, then narrows them to a short list worth hearing.

The podcast mixes clips, context and commentary in a brisk format, which makes it a quick way for readers to sort through a crowded week of new music. Each episode features members of the NPR Music Network of public radio stations, and this week’s panel brings voices from three cities.

Stephen Thompson hosts this week’s discussion. The guests are Francesca Harding of KCRW in Los Angeles, Erin Wolf of Radio Milwaukee 88Nine and Alex Newman of KMHD Jazz Radio in Portland, Ore. The episode is part of the NPR Music podcast and can be heard on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify or wherever listeners get podcasts.

What albums made the Starting 5?

Anderson .Paak and Cordae’s Heavy Is the Crown comes first on the page, with its labels listed as Apes***, Mass Appeal and Empire. Michael Kiwanuka’s Fudge follows on Polydor, and Fenne Lily’s Win Win is on Nettwerk.

Two jazz selections round out the group. Fine’s Jazz Dreams is on Escho, and Surprise Chef’s Frogs In A Pond is on Concord Jazz. The page does not describe how each album sounds, so readers who want a preview should check the playlists for singles from each record.

NPR Music’s New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple collect singles from each album. Listeners can use them to sample all five picks in one sitting before committing to full albums.

Beyond the Starting 5, NPR Music’s staff recommended five more albums the podcast did not have time to discuss. They are Shabazz Palaces’ It’s a Style Sport on Sub Pop, Claud’s Me and the Music on Dead Oceans, Josh Johnson’s Animative on International Anthem/Nonesuch, The Olivia Tremor Control’s The Same Place on Elephant 6, and Third Coast Percussion and Jlin’s Vernacular on Rockwell.

The lightning round is a useful second stop for readers who want more than the top five. Each entry comes with its label, which helps fans find the album in a store or on a streaming service.

For fans who follow the NPR Music Network, the guests are a reminder of how regional public radio fits into national music coverage. The guests are members of the network, which the podcast describes as a group of public radio stations, and their presence gives the episode a range of local perspectives.

Why does a weekly album roundup matter? For readers who cannot keep up with every release, a short list with clear labels and playlists makes it easier to choose what to hear next. The format narrows the choice to five favorites plus the lightning round, so less time goes to searching.

The credits list the staff behind the show, from audio and production to editing and executive oversight. Audio is credited to Noah Caldwell, production to Elle Mannion, assistant production to Dora Levite, editing to Otis Hart, executive production to Suraya Mohamed and the executive directorship to Sonali Mehta.

The page does not say which albums will be featured in future episodes, so readers should check back each week for the next set of picks. For now, the current list gives fans a clear starting point for the albums released Oct. 23.

Quick answers

Who hosts New Music Friday?
NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson hosts the podcast, according to the episode page. This week’s guests come from KCRW, Radio Milwaukee 88Nine and KMHD Jazz Radio.

Where can I listen to New Music Friday?
The episode is available on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Which album leads the Starting 5?
Anderson .Paak and Cordae’s Heavy Is the Crown is listed first, with Apes***, Mass Appeal and Empire as its labels.

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Source: NPR